Overview

Changes to the curriculum from 2018 will bring simplified undergraduate offerings across our liberal studies award courses in arts, science and commerce. These award courses will have:

common definitions of course components (stream, program, major and minor)

common course structures in each award course.

There will be new opportunities to study or work with other disciplines and get involved with real-world projects and research.

As a current student, you don’t need to change your course or worry about your enrolment. You will continue to receive the highest quality learning experience, graduating from your current course with an award course that is internationally recognised from one of the world’s leading universities.

If you're in your first year of a liberal studies course, you will have the option to apply to move to the new curriculum version of your course from 2018 with credit from your previous study.

The following information will give you some more context around the new curriculum, and help you understand what a change into a new curriculum course would mean for you.

Frequently asked questions

Will I be able to continue with my current award course without any changes?

Yes. There is no need for you to change your course of study, your choice of major, or any plans that you have made to study for the remainder of your course.

Some award courses will be available in a new version for students commencing in 2018. For example, the Bachelor of International and Global Studies will be transformed into the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (International and Global Studies).

If you are currently enrolled in one of these courses, such as the Bachelor of International and Global Studies, you will have the option to undertake some components of the new curriculum in your current course and still graduate with the Bachelor of International and Global Studies.

I deferred my offer in 2017 and will begin in 2018, but my course is no longer listed – what happens now?

You will receive a replacement offer for the new curriculum version of the award course. For example, an offer for the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Advanced Studies will be given in place of the Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies)

Will there be any changes to course fees?

Domestic contribution amounts and international tuition fees change every year. Changes in 2018 will be typical of rate changes in previous years and are not related to the new curriculum. Find out more about tuition fees.

Second and third year students - courses introduced in 2018 will not have Year 3 or 4 units of study available in 2018. If you’re in Year 2 or later of a liberal studies award course in 2017 and would like to discuss moving to the new curriculum, contact the New Curriculum team at student.newcurriculum@sydney.edu.au

Do I need to move?

No, the choice to change to a new curriculum version of your course is yours – subject to the eligibility requirements. The changes in 2018 will allow you to continue and complete your current studies without any impact.

If you change to a course in the new curriculum, you can’t go back to your previous course.

If I move to a new curriculum course version, can I get credit for units of study completed in my previous course?

Yes, but it’s important to remember that moving to a new curriculum version of your course does not guarantee credit for all of your previous study.

Will the same units of study be available from 2018 onwards?

In most cases, yes. However, units of study are not always available each year and changes next year will be typical of previous years.

Will I be able to do new units of study in my current course?

You will be able to do some new units of study in your current course. The changes to courses are generally related to completion requirements, rather than all new units of study.

What is the Open Learning Environment?

The Open Learning Environment (OLE) will be a collection of short, modular units of study and learning resources that allow students to acquire foundational concepts in a variety of disciplines. The OLE will provide opportunities for all students to learn about diverse topics such as data science, research techniques, entrepreneurial thinking, ethics, team leadership, design thinking, intercultural communication and project management.

Can current students access the OLE?

Yes. Selected units of study offered in the OLE will be available to all students from 2018. More details about the OLE will be announced later this year.

What is the Bachelor of Advanced Studies?

The Bachelor of Advanced Studies will be offered in combination with a three-year course to create a four-year combined award course providing the opportunity to undertake honours study, advanced coursework, or major project work. The Bachelor of Advanced Studies will be available in combination with the:

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Commerce

Bachelor of Design Computing

Bachelor of Economics

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Visual Arts.

Combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies courses focuses on disciplinary depth and cross-disciplinary problem-solving for real-world industry, community and research challenges and require students to:

complete a second major

take on more academically challenging coursework with 4000-level units of study

either a research, industry, community or entrepreneurial project or an embedded honours research project.

4000-level units of study for combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies courses will not be available for selection or enrolment until 2020.

Can current students change into a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies course?

You may be eligible to change from your current three-year course, to a relevant four-year combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies course. For example:

Bachelor of Arts to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies

Bachelor of Commerce to Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Advanced Studies

Bachelor of Science to Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies.

If you're currently enrolled in Year 1 of a four-year undergraduate course, you may apply to the relevant four-year combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies course. For example, a first-year student in the Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) may apply to change to the combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Media and Communications). However, you cannot complete your current award and add the Bachelor of Advanced Studies as a fifth year of study.

I’ve just started my course in 2017, will I still be able to do honours?

Yes, there are no plans to discontinue honours. If your current course offers you the opportunity to pursue honours and you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be able to do so. There is no need for you to change your course of study, your choice of major leading to an honours year, or any plans that you have made to study for the remainder of your course.

If you’re an undergraduate student and you want to achieve associate membership to one of these bodies, you should enrol in one of the above undergraduate accredited courses and complete the required accredited units of study.

By completing additional accredited units of study, you may obtain exemptions for up to five further specific exams.

Completion of an accounting major or minor is not sufficient to satisfy professional accounting accreditation requirements with CPA Australia or CAANZ or maximise all available foundation exam exemptions with ACCA.

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